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This blog contains posts that share five interesting facts about one of IBM's products or services. This blog is brought to you by IBM Redbooks and is maintained by Martin Keen (@MartinRTP) and James Pistilli.

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5 Things to Know About HiperSockets on System z

Many data center environments today have multi-tiered server applications. Although it is common to see a variety of middle-tier servers surrounding the System z data and transaction servers, there is a way to minimize the cost and complexity of the network. The solution can provide benefits in performance and availability, as well as minimizing ongoing support costs. This solution involves consolidating servers onto the System z itself.

In addition to the zEnterprise functions of virtualization and centralized control, the function of HiperSockets (fast internal network channels) allows the servers to cross-communicate quickly and easily. Here are 5 things to know about HiperSockets.

HiperSockets provide high performance network links.

Consolidated servers that access data residing on the System z can do so at memory speeds with latency close to zero, by bypassing network overhead and delays. The bandwidth of your Ethernet interfaces is then fully available for external network traffic, when the internal traffic is running over HiperSockets.

Cost savings can result from using HiperSockets

You can use HiperSockets to communicate among consolidated servers in a single processor. Therefore, you can eliminate all the hardware boxes running these separate servers. With HiperSockets, there are no external components or cables to pay for, to replace, to maintain, or to wear out. Also a large bank saved 30% of the CP cycles used when sending packets to another LPAR by processing the transfers on a zIIP across HiperSockets.

Consolidation is easy when using Hipersockets.

System z can be used to consolidate multiple servers into a single machine. With HiperSockets this will not only reduce the amount of server hardware, but can also reduce the complexity of your physical network. Any changes to a HiperSockets network can easily be done without the need for installation of physical components or re-cabling.

Security is simplified and enhanced with HiperSockets.

Cables or external components are vulnerable to physical attacks. Because HiperSockets does not have physical interfaces, it is protected against attacks from the outside. This may allow you to run the network traffic without encryption, which results in additional performance improvements.

Availability is part of the HiperSockets implementation.

With HiperSockets, there are no network hubs, routers, adapters, or wires to break or maintain. The absence of mechanical components improves availability.